Benfica vs. PSV: Match Preview
- By A.D. Winn on April 6, 2011 17:02 GMT
Two sides that find themselves 2nd in their respective leagues will clash on Thursday, as Portugal’s Benfica entertain Dutch side PSV Eindhoven in the first leg of the Europa League Quarter Finals.
Current Portuguese champions Benfica, managed by Jorge Jesus, are a massive 16 points behind league leaders Porto in domestic competition with just five games left. In their last outing in the league, they suffered a 2-1 home loss to the side who have now all but claimed the league title from their rivals.
That result was just Benfica’s second loss in 24 matches, and they will be hoping to continue their good form in the Europa League, where they have recorded victories over Paris Saint-Germain and Stuttgart since falling short in the Champions League.
The Eagles will be able to call upon players such as goalkeeper Roberto Jiménez, former Real Madrid midfielder Javi Garcia and international left-back Fábio Coentrão, the latter hoping to cause plenty of trouble down the PSV right hand touchline.
Club legend Nuno Gomes will miss the rest of the season with a knee injury.
The Estádio da Luz is expected to be full to the brim for the arrival of the Dutch giants, who trail by just two points behind Twente in the Eredivisie despite having a much greater goal difference, partly due to a massive 10-0 league victory over Feyenoord last October.
The Boeren, much like Porto, lost to the side above them in their last outing. Their progress in Europe this season has been mightily impressive; not only in knocking out Scottish Champions Rangers in the last round, but recording just one loss throughout the entire tournament.
Their squad is likely to include club captain Orlando Engelaar and dangerous Hungarian winger Balázs Dzsudzsák.
The club may be missing the attacking flair of Ola Toivonen, who has suffered a injury ahead of the fixture.
The Dutch club are undefeated in their last five European away games, picking up a vital four wins and a draw, scoring nine goals in doing so.
Form
All Competitions:
Benfica: WDDWL (10 goals for, 6 against)
PSV: DDWWL (4 goals for, 4 against)
Champions League/ Europa League:
Benfica: LWWWD (8 goals for, 5 against)
PSV: DDWDW (6 goals for, 3 against)
